Shark Bite Survivor

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Teen recovering after shark attack off Virginia coast.

A Virginia Beach teenager has an incredible story to tell after surviving a terrifying encounter with a shark.

"I thought that would never happen," said Adam Wilson. "When we got there, it did not even cross my mind that we could potentially be in danger."

18-year-old Caleb Kauchak and his buddies were hanging out at Sandbridge Beach.

"We were down at a place called Porters Island," Kauchak said. "Me and my friends go surfing down there a lot."

They were standing next to their boards when they felt something in the water brush up against them.

"He said 'There is something out here with us' and I couldn't even finish my next sentence, before it grabbed my ankle," Kauchak added. "I kind of felt a little bit of a thrashing."

"From the waist down, he was covered in blood," Wilson added. "It was pretty hectic."

"I immediately jumped on my board to get my out of the water and as I did I felt my board lean back," Kauchak said. "I felt a sharp pain in my knee and then after that it let go. It was just a quick bite and release."

With help from his friends Caleb was able to get back on the beach.

"I looked down and I can't even see the cuts, because I saw blood pouring down my leg," Kauchak added.

Rescue crews say he was attacked by a shark.

His knee and ankle are now bandaged.

He had to get 51 stitches.

"I was just hoping I wasn't going to lose a leg or not be able to move my leg," Kauchak said. "I feel real lucky that I can still move my leg."

"I guess because where we live, we don't' think about it," Wilson said. "It happens so rarely. We're thinking it's never going to happen to us."

No one ever saw the shark, but the fear of what's lurking in the water isn't going to stop Caleb from going back out.

"I will eventually go out, just not anytime soon," Kauchak said. "It will probably be next summer before I do."

Bruce Nedelka with the Virginia Beach Department of Emergency Medical Services said this is the first time in many years that an incident like this has happened.

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